Red Bull manager Laurent Mequise insists the Milton Keynes team will remain aggressive under his leadership, saying the team will push F1’s rules “to the limits and sometimes beyond”.
Mekies has made an impressive start to the season since replacing Christian Horner in July, overseeing a turnaround that has seen Max Verstappen within two points of a historic return to title contention.
Under Horner, who has been at the helm of the team since it joined the grid in 2005, Red Bull have become known for their particularly fierce competitiveness, while the Briton himself has had several feuds with rival team bosses.
Mekies, who has worked for multiple teams including Ferrari and even the governing body the FIA during his 25 years in F1, is a popular figure with strong relationships across the paddock, leading some to believe that Red Bull’s style could change with him in charge.
When Mekies was asked after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix whether the team had so far been “on the edge” in terms of fairness, he replied:
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On the F1 Show podcast, Karun Chandhok, Ted Kravitz and Simon Lazenby answered a fan’s question about why Max Verstappen did not return to the grid at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“I think we had a very strong fight, but a fair and clean fight[with McLaren]. And that’s the way we race, pushing everything to the limit. But we certainly respect the competition.”
“But don’t get me wrong, everything is pushed to the limit and sometimes even beyond the limit. But when it comes to fairness in sport and respect for the competition, we think you can do both: be on the edge and still respect the competition.”
“Sports is a battle of giants, and we feel very strongly about that battle and respect our competitors.”
“The turnaround in 2025 was sensational.”
Verstappen was aiming to win his fifth consecutive drivers’ title in 2025, but by the time Mekies took over after the British Grand Prix, he had won just two of the season’s opening 12 races.
The first few races under Mekies’ leadership were difficult, but Verstappen finished on the podium in all 10 races after the summer break and won six of them.
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Relive the ups and downs of Christian Horner’s time as Red Bull team principal
The turnaround in form is not solely the credit of Mekize, but Verstappen said the Frenchman’s technical background had made a difference in the final weeks of the season, given that the key upgrades to the car for September’s Italian Grand Prix would have been planned long before his arrival.
From Mekies’ point of view, he is happy that the team can enter a new era of chassis and engine regulations with confidence that it can deliver a car that can beat Verstappen.
“When I look back at the season, I really think the turnaround was sensational,” he said. “Both our girls and boys should be proud of what has been achieved.
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Speaking on the F1 Show Podcast, Ted Kravitz revealed who he thinks will replace Giampiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen’s race engineer.
“I don’t think something like this has happened much in the past few years, decades, and that’s the way we look at it.
“That allows us to go into the winter with a degree of confidence in our tools, methodology and key approaches.
“Some of that can be carried over into next year’s regulations, but some of it will become less relevant.”
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